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State, "in any city or town all of the rights of labor other than
the right to strike, or engage in any work stoppage or slowdown.
To provide for the exercise of these rights, a method of
arbitration of disputes is hereby established." R.I Gen. Laws
sec. 28-9-9.2(b). It is the obligation of each city or town to
meet and confer in good faith with representatives of the
bargaining agent and to cause any agreement to be reduced to a
written contract. R.I. Gen. Laws sec. 28-9.2-6. If the city or
town and bargaining agent are unable to reach agreement, all
unresolved issues must be submitted to arbitration. R.I. Gen
Laws sec. 28-9.2-7. At R.I. Gen. Laws sec. 28-9.2-12, the Act
provides that when an agreement is actually negotiated, it "shall
constitute the collective bargaining contract governing policemen
and said city or town for the period stated therein, provided
that the period shall not exceed one [1] year."
We can find nowhere in the Act a requirement that all, or
any collective bargaining agreement entered into by a city must
be adopted and approved by "legislative acts" of the city council
or be incorporated by reference into the city code. Although the
City was a signatory to the agreement, petitioners have not shown
that it was in fact adopted by "legislative act" of the City
council or incorporated into the City's code, ordinances, or
charter.
We also can find no support for petitioners' position in
their citation of Chapter 3.16 of the City Charter. This
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Last modified: May 25, 2011